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2012年4月16日星期一

Greatest approach to reduce agony from hemorrhoids

A hemorrhoid is surely an enlarged or maybe twisted vein in the wall on the lower rear end and/or the bagdel. Hemorrhoids could occur for several reasons, the most common these would be the extra stress placed on typically the anorectal area by frequent constipation or perhaps by pregnant state; getting older,Full color plasticcard printing and manufacturing services. obesity plus the frequent make use of enemas or suppositories can be considerable factors.GOpromos offers a wide selection of promotional items and personalized gifts. Hemorrhoid distress (or ‘piles’ because they are oftentimes called) could be so trivial that you will scarcely notice that there is also a difficulty or they could be so severe that this pain is actually excruciating as well as, within the more extreme cases,Aeroscout rtls provides a complete solution for wireless asset tracking. you can experience bleeding.

Hemorrhoid distress may be categorised as internal as well as external however it is achievable to get both at the same time; all these categories are easily mentioning the hemroids you can see beyond the anal launching and those that are not obvious outside of your system.

Hemorrhoid distress that are severe enough to need medical treatment are least common with women and men of their 20s or maybe younger. Approximately immediately after age thirty, however , three-quarters of all Americans should have hemorrhoids that require medical therapy; the majority of those situations will involve as well as expectant women.

Trivial hemorrhoids (internal or maybe external) won’t be hurtful and may go away without treatment of just about any.

A much more serious haemorrhoid may bleed and you might notice blood from the toilet jar, within the poop, for the toilet paper or with your undergarment.Silicone moldmaking Rubber,

If an internal pile becomes adequate it can protrude throughout the anal opening. Often it may be forced back inside if that will not return inside again. All these protruding internal hemorrhoid distress quickly become inflammed and painful when permitted to remain outside. If that is not pushed backside inside,Learn all about solarpanel. a vacation for the doctor swiftly becomes a main concern.

Outer hemorrhoids, credit rating significant, however , can be painful any time attempting to brush the anal area after a colon movement, they are also at the mercy of blood clots. If the blood clog forms an unpleasant lump may well develop as well as the skin surrounding the anal location will become red. It is not a new life threatening situation but it does indeed call for medical involvement.

At times changing your life-style or, more importantly, your dietary habits will assist you to keep away from a reoccurrence associated with hemorrhoids. Including items with a high soluble fiber content towards your diet can be enough to stop costiveness, other strategies may involve ingesting six to eight eight-ounce glasses of water per day, getting rid of excess weight as well as drinking a fiber supplement. Sitting on a loo seat while looking at a book is bad idea mainly because it enhances the pressure within the veins that are vulnerable to become annoyed and swell.

For those who have a hemorrhoid, perfumed soap or toilet pieces of paper may irritate the item. Utilize a pre-moistened towelette or maybe on the list of hemorrhoids products out there to lessen this and discomfort. Try being placed in a tub of warm water to reduce pain or even using an glaciers pack to minimize puffiness.

2012年4月9日星期一

Artists for Humanity teens get ready to 'Bee' party hosts

The music is pumping in the background of a 5,000-square-foot art studio on a Thursday afternoon. Easels are lined across the floor. Small tables are covered in dried-up, splattered paint. Beams of sunlight capture the colors of canvas paintings and penetrate the room with warm air.

Unaffected by the clutter, young artists are scattered in their workspaces. They are drawn together by the vision of Susan Rodgerson, founder and director of Artists for Humanity, who has designated the theme of the 7th annual 'Greatest Party on Earth' event, which celebrates the earth and the creativity of young artists, as “Vanishing Bees.”

“We use this day to highlight environmental issues, and bees are a critical part of human life. There has been a problem with them dying in massive amounts,” said Rodgerson, adding that the theme was inspired by the documentary film, "Vanishing of the Bees."

The teen artists are expressing their interpretations of the bee theme through work that will be showcased and sold April 28 at the Artists For Humanity (AFH) EpiCenter,Get information on airpurifier from the unbiased, independent experts. in the Fort Point art district. AFH’s central program, the Youth Arts Enterprise, is a paid apprenticeship and leadership program employing urban teens. Youths are partnered in small groups with professional artists, designers and young mentors to create, market and sell fine art and design services.

For the upcoming event, AFH "looks for diverse and abstract artwork, rather than literal pictures of bees and flowers,Aeroscout rtls provides a complete solution for wireless asset tracking.” said Maggi Brown, an AFH painting studio mentor.

Kelvin Nova (pictured above), a sophomore at Madison Park High School in Boston, conveys messages with meaning in a skilled graffiti-style form.

Traditional methods for graffiti have involved the use of spray paint,A wireless indoortracking system is described in this paper. but Nova has infused his piece with a hip-hop flavor and lots of details, including eye-popping 3-D lettering that spells out the word “SAVE” in paint. A bee is strategically placed in the middle of the word.

The letter “V” is carved out as a red ribbon, representing the need to raise awareness. He has accented the piece with honeycombs and flowers that are bursting at the bottom of the canvas.

Nova is one of dozens of teens who have become paid apprentices for the organization by demonstrating a commitment to their craft. “I practice a lot. That’s how I’ve continued to improve and get better and better,” Nova said.

Rodgerson assesses the market value of each piece, which will carry price tags ranging from $100 for a small painting, to $4,000 for a large canvas piece. More than 100 pieces of artwork will be offered for sale.

“The kids volunteer to have their work sold," said Debbie First, AFH's communications consultant.Why does moulds grow in homes or buildings? If their work is purchased, 50 percent of the profit goes to the tBroken chinamosaic Table.een artist, and the other half goes into the AFH program.

Jameel Radcliffe, an AFH apprentice and a senior at West Roxbury High School, is working on an abstract piece that has bees disappearing into a blue sky, with elements of surrealism.

“Music motivates me," he explained. "I want people to realize that bees are disappearing and that we should have respect for them and have a deep appreciation for their existence."

For 'The Greatest Party On Earth' event, caterers from some top Boston restaurants donate food. This year, the food will match the theme: “The caterers are using everything from honeycombs to bee pollen to honey drizzles,” said Alexis Naylor, events manager for AFH. Live entertainment will include aerial performances and two bands. All money raised through ticket sales goes into the program.

2012年2月12日星期日

Oil change ends in flames

What started as a routine oil change ended with Yonas Bekele's 1993 Lexus bursting into flames at a local Jiffy Lube.

Now, he said, the car is too dangerous to drive unless he spends over $8,500 to make needed repairs -- leaving Bekele without a car to get from Plymouth to his classes at the University of Minnesota.

"I'm exhausted and mad," he said. "I'm having a hard time paying rent. I can't afford another payment."

After the fire broke out during the service, Jiffy Lube replaced some damaged components on Bekele's Lexus. But a spokesman for Heartland Automotive Services, Jiffy Lube's parent company in Texas, said Bekele's request for additional repairs reflected "unreasonable expectations for his older vehicle." The company said, however, that it will follow up to investigate his concerns.

Bekele, 31, is an Ethiopian native who lives in Plymouth and commutes to Minneapolis, where he studies construction management and civil engineering full time at the U. Five years ago, he bought a used Lexus ES 300, which he usually takes to the Jiffy Lube on Campus Drive in Plymouth.

On Jan. 23, Bekele took the Lexus in for an oil change. He was told by an employee that the fuel filter was dirty and needed to be changed. He took a seat in the waiting room and looked up at a TV monitor, which showed mechanics working in the garage.

"Suddenly I saw a fire through the monitor," Bekele recalled. "I looked around and my car is on fire."

As flames shot out of the engine bay, Bekele said mechanics scrambled to find a fire extinguisher and open the garage doors to let out the smoke.

A Jiffy Lube worker said that pieces weren't properly put back after the fuel filter replacement, Bekele said, causing gas to leak out and catch fire once the engine was turned on. However, Heartland Automotive Services spokesman Rob Rajkowski said the cause of the "small fire" is "unclear."

The mechanics apologized to him, Bekele said, and Jiffy Lube paid for a rental car for him to drive for three days as they repaired the car. According to invoices, they fixed the cap, ignition rotor and plug wires. Bekele wasn't convinced all the damage was repaired, so he paid to tow his car to Lexus of Wayzata.

There, mechanics found fire damage to the main engine wiring harness, firewall insulator and airbox, according to the invoice. Estimate for all of the repairs: $8,537.

Lexus of Wayzata general manager Robert Katz said that, given the car's age, "the value of it is probably less than the value to fix it."

Without the repairs, Bekele thinks the car isn't safe, so he hasn't driven it since. He has only liability insurance on the car, so he can't get help there. Bekele filed a complaint with Heartland Automotive Services, which is still pending.

Rajkowski said the company will follow up with Bekele to try to resolve the issue. "We understood he was satisfied with this resolution and have not heard from him since that date [Jan. 31, when they returned his car], so we were surprised the matter resurfaced," Rajkowski said.

After Whistleblower sent Jiffy Lube a copy of the repair estimate from Lexus of Wayzata, Rajkowski described it as "new information" that will be added to "that investigation as we work toward a final resolution."

Bekele said he will file a small claims case against Jiffy Lube, asking for a maximum $7,500. Meantime, he's borrowing his sister's vehicle as he searches for an affordable replacement for his Lexus.

2012年1月16日星期一

Lifetime: Season of excuses

It's better to embrace the cold weather than to curse it!

Before getting into today's challenge, it's a good time to catch up on your lifestyle progress.

If you have been following these LifeTime segments, the most important changes that you have made to your lifestyle include adding physical activity to your days, eating more vegetables and fruits, learning how to self-regulate and paying attention to your emotions, and setting appropriate goals while giving up on unattainable goals.

All of these strategies combined are likely to result in a more confident, healthier, and happier you in all aspects of your life. If you have missed segments, or forget the main premise of any of them, go back and re-read and watch/listen to the messages.

Relatedly, if you are trying to make small and achievable changes to your lifestyle, you have undoubtedly thought about adding more physical activity to your day. Maybe you have been doing this for some time, or maybe you made a recent resolution to do so…regardless, the cold winter weather is likely to be a big barrier to physical activity both because it may limit the type of activity you like to do, or make doing activity more difficult or less enjoyable.

The good news is that there are ways to conquer the weather – and doing so will probably lead to greater feelings of accomplishment and confidence. It all comes down to planning and preparation (have you heard that before?!) – dressing for the elements is the best defense against harm and injury, and makes winter weather bearable if not enjoyable! I have one word for you – layers.

The key to layering is based on heat exchange and controlling moisture. You want to have a base layer used to keep moisture at bay (best materials are wool or polyester), at least one insulating layer (think wool or fleece), and an outer shell to protect against the elements. See the specifics on layering in the downloadable document.

Also, since air is a very good insulator, layering allows you to have more pockets of air between your body and the elements. And, wearing multiple layers allows you to adjust the level of insulation you need during physical activity by removing and adding layers as needed.

One thing to keep in mind is to keep clothing snug for all layers. Baggy clothes trap warm air, but with every movement that air is forced out through the large openings. If you are not a big fan of sporting tights for your walk, try wearing shorts over your tights .

Bottom line for layering: moderate-intensity exercise in relatively dry but cold weather can generate enough heat to maintain the body's core temperature without the need for thick and heavy clothing. Look for lighter-weight, functional materials and layer appropriately.

Also, people with higher amount of body fat will retain more body heat than individuals who have less body fat. So, leaner individuals might need more insulation. Layering is a personal choice and can make exercise more enjoyable and safe.

In addition to clothing, there are other "tools" that might be useful when exercising in the cold winter weather.

Winter traction devices are usually made of rubber and have metal points one the bottom to give you traction on ice . Traction is very important for walkers, joggers, and runners and gives confidence to people who are worried about balance on ice.

You could use short ski poles or walking/trekking sticks to help with balance while walking in the winter . You want to use sticks that have a strap on the one end with the handle, preferably a metal spike on the other end, and that allow you to have a 90-degree angle at your elbow when the end of the stick is resting on the ground beside your small toe. If you are considering purchasing a trekking stick, talk to the experts at the sport/outdoor specialty shop to ensure you are buying the right pole(s) for your needs.

There are lots of varieties of chemical heat packs that you can get and "activate" to give you immediate heat where you need it. This is an inexpensive way of keeping your extremities warm.

There are many outdoor sports that you can do in the city or within close proximity – cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, skating to name a few– and you can rent the equipment for a day to get acquainted with the sport before purchasing your own equipment. Consider tubing and tobogganing as well; fun activities that involve moderate-to-vigorous physical activity walking back up the hills. Winter activity can bring out the child in all of us if we let it!

Engaging in physical activity in cold weather is relatively safe for healthy, consistent exercisers. However, if you have a history of heart disease or if you are out of shape, overweight, and suffer from high blood pressure, there may be higher risks to being physically active in the cold. This is because cold weather places added stress on the heart. There are ways of reducing the risks, such as warming up before going outside , starting your exercise slowly when you get out , and wearing layers. Talk to your physician and/or a trained kinesiologist before starting any exercise program.

Stay hydrated. You might not feel the need to drink water when you are exercising in the cold, but fluids are as important in cold weather as they are in the heat. Dehydration can affect your body's ability to regulate heat. Also, if you are going outside to be physically active, try to avoid consuming alcohol and caffeinated beverages because they promote dehydration.

Pay attention to the temperatures you feel and see . Frostbite is a serious condition that you want to avoid. If you do go out in the extreme cold temperatures, end your workout early if it is snowing or freezing rain because this moisture and the cold temperatures increase the risk for frostbite. This condition is also exacerbated with high windchill factors .

Eliminate your expectation that your athletic performance will match your warmer day work-outs. Focus on the process rather than outcome – physical activity in the snow and ice requires more energy expenditure, so you might go out for less time but you are likely to burn as many calories. Enjoy being outside while exercising, and think about all the people driving by or looking out of their windows thinking "now that is commitment to be working out in weather like this"

The challenge for the next two weeks is for you get outside and do some physical activity – practice layering, use the clothes you already own and see how you do before considering spending big bucks on new clothes. You don't need to look like the big athletic companies sponsor you – you need to stay dry and warm to enjoy your time outdoors.

2011年12月22日星期四

COP17 inspires local mechanic to complete eco-friendly geyser

A LOCAL mechanic’s idea to manufacture a bio eco-friendly geyser was motivated by the load shedding which began in 2008, but the 17th Conference of Parties (COP17) inspired him to complete his project.

Prithy (Batchu) Bhekarie, owner of RVN Motors workshop in Raven Street in the city centre said: “I was annoyed every time while watching television and enjoying whatever programme was on, when the lights would go out without any warning.

“During that time the television would show a warning about saving electricity by switching off geysers and other electrical appliances.

“That is when it hit me that as an experienced mechanic who has been running his workshop for 14 years I can contribute towards saving energy by creating a bio-eco friendly geyser which would be cost effective and also benefit indigent households,” said Bhekarie.

He said at R3,50 a day he manages to have hot water by using a bio-gel to heat the geyser.

“I am in the process of producing a bio-gel that would burn for longer, in collaboration with producers of environment-friendly gel. This can be used inside the house because it does not produce smoke,” he said.

Bhekarie said he is still trying to finalise patent rights for his Trisuv Econo-geyser. “I actually named it after my two sons,” he said.

He is determined to make this a household name as an appliance that is used by restaurants, workshops and those who do not have electricity, as well as those who want to save on electricity bills at the end of the month.

“My aim was to create accessible hot water for the people living in the rural areas and those living in RDP housing who cannot afford electrical geysers,” he said.

He said this was his contribution to help the government ease the electricity load and to reduce carbon footprints while people enjoy hot water.

“I have manufactured a 50 litre geyser, which can be used during cold days by applying bio-gel and during hot days by using installed solar energy to heat water and save the bio gel,” said Bhekarie.

Bhekarie said it takes just 30 minutes to heat the water.

“This works like a tea flask, when you put hot water in today, it would still be hot tomorrow because of the special insulator that I have put inside the geyser,” he said.

2011年11月3日星期四

Cobalt Technology Cuts Electric Consumption by Computers

A researcher at Kyoto University has developed a way to save electricity by using cobalt, and his work is already drawing interest from companies which make magnetic devices used in a variety of applications, such as hard disks, computers and speakers.

Daichi Chiba, an assistant professor, told Cobalt Investing News that in his research, conducted with other experts, he covered a 0.4-nanometer-thick layer of cobalt with an insulating film and applied 10-volt electricity to it to record changes in its magnetic poles. He found that the cobalt completely lost its magnetism when minus voltage was applied.

He explained that electric current is passed through magnets in hard disks so that they can register and process data. Using cobalt – an iron group element with magnetic properties like iron and nickel – to create a technology that can basically turn computer memory devices on and off without virtually any electrical power is “significant,” he said.

“In conventional magnetic devices, such as an electromagnet, we have to apply electric current to it to generate magnetic force,” he said, adding that this makes the device hot as it consumes “consumes wasteful energy as thermal energy. In our device, we don’t need to apply electric current. Only voltage is applied between a gate electrode and the cobalt layer. There is an insulator layer between them, so almost no electric current flows.”

According to Energy Star, an initiative of the US Environmental Protection Agency and the US Department of Energy, if every home office product purchased in the United States this year met its requirements, the country could save $100 million in energy costs and more than 900 million kilowatt hours of electricity. The amount of energy saved would prevent 1.4 billion pounds of greenhouse gases – equivalent to emissions from 125,000 cars – from being emitted into the atmosphere.

Chiba said using cobalt allows the structure of a magnetic device to be similar to that of a capacitor. “Current flows only when electric charge is discharged and charged, but this is negligibly small. Thus, we can electrically switch on and off magnetic force generated from cobalt without applying electric current at room temperature. When information is written, we have to apply electric current to generate magnetic field and to switch the magnetization direction of an element. Our technology may open up an entirely new route to realize electrical writing method without using electric current.”

Chiba, whose findings were published in British science journal “Nature Materials” in early October, worked with three other researchers from Kyoto University and two from NEC Corp., a Japanese multinational which operates in the IT and network solutions and electronic devices sectors.

The findings of this study could help companies, such as NEC, which develop hard disks, random access memory, semiconductor memory, and other magnetic devices such as speakers and electric transformers, create devices which could help consumers save money through reduced power usage.

Asked whether any investors or companies have shown any interest in acquiring this technology, he said: “No, not yet. But we are collaborating with NEC. Several persons from company called me, but just asked some questions about the mechanism of our result.”

2011年11月1日星期二

Habitat blesses new Leavenworth house

Saturday had been a long time coming for Patricia Johnson.

The Leavenworth resident said she had been looking for a house for herself for about a year. But, frustrating as the search for a home sometimes was, she said the right house never seemed to present itself. Another opportunity did — when she was directed by a pastor toward an item on the bulletin board at her church, Faith Evangelistic Center, about Heartland Habitat for Humanity’s newest house.

“It had been hanging there on the wall for about two months and nobody checked it out,” she said.

Heartland Habitat serves Clay and Platte counties in Missouri and Johnson, Wyandotte and Leavenworth counties in Kansas. Like its national counterpart, the organization serves to provide “simple, decent” homes for low-income families.
Johnson’s house, at 1524 Shawnee Street in the city, was already mostly finished when she learned about it. Johnson said she turned in an application to be the owner and in the meantime did some more waiting.

“I came here one night and I saw it,” she said of the house. “I laid my hands on it and I claimed it. I said ‘if it is your will lord, this is my home.’ Maybe, I’d say a week or two after that, they called.”

Johnson said since then she has worked to complete paperwork and perform the needed 350 hours of “sweat equity,” which included both physical improvements like painting and homeowner education courses in Kansas City. With a full-time job at Walmart — the overnight shift — Johnson said meeting those requirements was sometimes difficult.

“Some days you think you’re not going to make it,” she said.

Some days, Johnson said she slept in her car outside of the house for an hour to gather the strength to work that day. The culmination of all of that work came during a house blessing Saturday.

Brenda Mortell, family services coordinator for Heartland Habitat, said Patricia never missed a beat when it came to the required paperwork — frequently, she did it with a smile on her face.

“She has been a blessing to us all,” she said.

Tom Lally, executive director for Heartland Habitat, said the process of homeowner education and “sweat equity” help the owners of Habitat houses make the transition to “homeowner.”

“Living in a structure, renting is so much different than owning a house because you are the responsible party” he said. “That gives you that sense of ownership and pride.”

David Bryant, the project manager for Leavenworth’s Habitat homes, said he and four volunteer crew members  — John Morris, Donley Brothers, Bill Wood and Forrest Holdeman — worked three and a half to four hours a day four days a week for the last nine months in order to finish the home.

Lally said the approach of the Leavenworth operations — using a small group of volunteers — is a unique one within the organization.

The result of the group’s efforts, Bryant said, will be a home for Johnson, her daughter Bianca and her children — built on a concrete slab with three bedrooms and two bathrooms. It is built with concrete walls, formed with rebar reinforcement and styrofoam on the inside and outside. This style of construction was used in two previous Habitat homes in Leavenworth and Bryant said it’s an efficient insulator.

While the four walls are no doubt solid, Lally said perhaps one of the most important pieces to completing the process is still to come.

“I do think that home is the family, the love, the traditions, the holidays, the faith,” he said. “And that becomes ingrained in the very fabric of the structure.”

Bryant said the economy has made it somewhat difficult to embark on a new project and Heartland Habitat is still looking for land donations for another home. In the meantime, Lally said the organization is preparing for a new program — the Neighborhood Revitalization Initiative, which will provide funds for homeowners to make minor repairs to their homes, sponsor clean up efforts and weatherization.

2011年5月18日星期三

Judge Kalauli resigns as Magistrate at Fredonia Town Council

The Fredonia Town Council began with public comment from Sondra Bistline. Bistline stated she had heard about the Forest Service Travel Management plan and wondered if there was cause for concern.

Council member Brent Mackelprang replied, “Every citizen in this community should be very concerned with any decision made by the federal government.” He went on to explain that the Forest Service had denied the town coordination status regarding the plan.

Bistline said it was the public comment period for the plan and wondered if it would do any good to comment.

Mackelprang encouraged her and everyone in the community to comment. He explained that most public comments on this project actually come from special interest groups and people who have never even been to the area, so local input is vital.

Next, Mackelprang requested the office research previous council minutes for him. He stated he thought about the decision made at the last meeting regarding the marshal and town manager position and seemed to recall the former council had made a decision that the manager could not also be a department head. He asked that the decision be researched so the council could review.

Town Manager Dan Watson reported on the water project. He explained the contractors were finishing and working on the punch list.

Next, he updated the council on the bid bond for the tank project. Previously, they believed the bond to be fraudulent. After further research, it has been determined that it is not fraudulent, but more of a clerical error by the bond company. Watson now feels it is between the construction company, the insurance company and Sunrise Engineering to figure out how the town can collect the $12,271.54 on the bond.

Watson explained the recent power outage was caused by a faulty insulator, which formed an arc, frying the transformer.  It is now imperative that the town change out the transformer, which the council had voted on previously.

The council moved onto the agenda items. Mark Overas submitted his resignation as Planning and Zoning chair. Mayor Heaton asked that the opening be advertised, so those interested could submit letters of interest.

The council next accepted the resignation of Mitch Kalauli as Magistrate. They expressed their appreciation for his dedication to the community. He will be missed. The council approved the posting of the position.

Heidi Koeller, court trainer from Flagstaff, approached the council regarding the severity of not having a judge. She explained that on Thursday at 4 p.m., Kalauli would no longer be Magistrate. The town must have a judge.

The council requested Watson to speak with Judge Heaton and Judge Baron to see if they may fill in until a new Magistrate could be appointed.

The possibility of a new rental contract for the medical center was discussed. Watson stated he had been negotiating with Mark Overas regarding the contract and they proposed $750 plus utilities with an automatic 3% increase each year. The council requested research be done to be sure the low rental amount was enough to cover costs and start a repair and maintenance fund for the building.

Mandy Grover was chosen for the pool manager position for 2011, with Josh Finicum as assistant. Lifeguards and pool cleaners were also approved for the season.

Town contract services had recently been put out to bid. The council reviewed the proposals and voted as follows: the contract for propane was given to low bidder, Coast Gas.  Summer Softball director to Randi Utter and Derran (Hoss) Tait. Pool supplies/maintenance and repair awarded to Shawn Warner. Bulk fuel to Jenkins Oil. Janitorial services to Sonya Kimball. HVAC to Jimeco. Port-a-potties to RD Enterprises.

Justin Mackelprang and Jacob Weber were approved as the newest members of the volunteer fire department.

The town vehicle policy was discussed again. Watson stated he had made the changes the council had requested, including a reference to the law enforcement policy.

Watson stated council member Alvy Johnson had requested he add that all Public Works employees be required to obtain and maintain valid Commercial Driver’s Licenses. Watson said he made the change. The council decided to give all Public Works employees six months to get their CDLs beginning June 1, 2011. Watson stated he would give a copy of the new policy to each of the employees.

The council then discussed the welcome center/museum Dixon Spendlove is working on. Watson stated Spendlove is currently a little over $15,000, and believes he can finish it with an additional $5,000.

Alvin Johnson asked where the money is coming from. Watson stated it would have to come out of contingency funds.

Jennifer Lukus stated she felt it was a lot of money, but it would be difficult to not finish the project.

Mackelprang felt it was the best use of that area and building.

Town Clerk TinaMarie Horlacher expressed her concern, however, stating that every other department had ceased spending and had worked very hard to work under the limited funding.

The council authorized an additional $5,000 for the museum.

2011年4月11日星期一

Polymer-reinforced aerogel found resilient for space missions

"Tailoring Mechanical Properties of Aerogels for Aerospace Application," featured as a spotlight article in the March 23, 2011, edition of the American Chemical Society's Applied Material & Interfaces describes how polymer-strengthened silica aerogels maintain their effectiveness as thermal insulators under supercritical conditions of outer space, including temperature and pressure extremes.

Polymer improves strength and flexibility

Low thermal conductivity and low density make silica aerogels ideal insulators, according to Jana, yet their fragility often counters their prospective effectiveness, particularly in aerospace applications. Comprised of approximately 95 percent air and 5 percent silica, the delicate aerogels typically break down under relatively low stresses. However, a polymer conformal coating on the silica nanoskeleton not only improves the strength of aerogels, but their elasticity and flexibility as well.

"Consequently, you now have a material capable of withstanding compression and bending stresses as well as temperature extremes, making it a candidate for use on space rovers, inflatable decelerators and EVA suits," says Jana, whose team research examined density, pore structure, modulus and elastic recovery of epoxy-reinforced aerogels.

Subsequent research could lead to streamlined methods for applying the polymer reinforcement to aerosol articles and expanding their use and configuration. As flexible thin sheets, for example, aerogel insulation material can be wrapped easily around pipes or tanks, using shape memory properties of the polymer reinforcement, or can be produced in net shapes obviating secondary processing or secondary handling, according to Jana.